Willis O. Wheaton, born 23 July 1880 in Dysart, Iowa, was the son of Oliver Wheaton and Barbara Ellen Rhinesmith Wheaton. A younger sister, Mary, died when she was seven. His mother also died when he was young, and he was raised in Ashley, Indiana by his mother's brother, George Rhinesmith and his wife Etta ("Aunt Et"). His father Oliver later remarried and lived in Waterloo, IN, but there seems to have been little contact in later years, perhaps due to some bad feeling between Willis's wife Lydia and his father's wife.
Willis served in the Spanish American War as a young man, and then for about two years worked for the Haynes-Apperson Co, of Kokomo, IN ("Manufacturers of High Grade Gasoline Automobiles"), as a mechanic. During this time he helped build the first Haynes-Apperson motor car, which is now in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC. In 1901 at about the age of 21 he moved to Toledo, OH, where for a time he marketed Haynes-Apperson cars.
In Toledo he married Lydia May Decker, of Knight's Landing, California. In November 1904 their daughter, Rose Esther Wheaton, was born. A second daughter, Virginia May, was born in June 1911, and a son William on February 22, 1918. The family lived at 1952 Superior Street in Toledo for many years. Daughter Rose seems to have been a striking beauty, and married Charles E. Beard, who became a pioneer in the commercial airline business. He was a co-founder, and eventually president, of Braniff Airlines. They lived in Dallas Texas for many years, and had two children, a boy Bob and a girl Barbara. Virginia (nicknamed "Nick" by her dad, apparently due to high-spirited mischievousness) married Orval Schlievert, who worked in a Toledo bank. They had one son, Jim.
Sometime in the second half of 1926, Willis died after a short illness. His son Bill, who evenually became a physician, believes the probable cause was kidney failure due Bright's Disease, citing his dad's recurrent headaches in the period before his fatal illness. In any event, Bill was only eight at the time of his dad's death. After Virginia married, Lydia (known as "Grammie" to all) raised Bill in Toledo during the hard years of the Great Depression. Bill later went to college in Oklahoma City, where he met and married Lucile Owens, of Memphis TN. After serving in the Army from 1944-1945, he returned to school and became a doctor, eventually settling in Central California, where he and Lucile raised their three children, Billy, Dick, and Virginia.
Bill remembers his dad as having been firm, but always kind and loving. Shortly before his early death, Willis bought home a beautiful chow puppy, "Moi Toi Ling Fu". His sire had been a champion, and the pup cost $300 -- a royal sum indeed in those days. Moi Toi was family protector and companion for nearly 17 years, all during Bill's youth.
When better times returned after the War, Grammie lived for long with her daughter Rose's family in Dallas, and then finally with Bill and his family in rural McFarland, California until her death in 1967. Willis and Lydia are buried side by side at Memorial Park Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio.
3/4/01
To Whom it may concern:
This will recommend Mr. Wm. Wheaton, who has been in the employ of the Haynes-Apperson car co. for the past two years. We have found him to be a skilled mechanic, thoroughly capable, and of cheerful disposition and would cordially recommend him to anyone desiring the services of a good man.
Very truly
Elwood Haynes,
President
Home phone A6538
Wm. Wheaton
Haynes-Apperson "America's First Car"
Note: The origin of the form "Wm." for the name Willis is a bit mysterious; in any event, his son William adopted "Wm. Wheaton" for his signature, and then his grandson William Ashley continued the tradition by using "Wm. A. Wheaton". Grammie Wheaton's father, William Decker, may have been a source for the name William, but presumably not for the "Wm." that Willis used.
Willis Wheaton, son of Oliver Wheaton of this place, died at his home in Toledo last Thursday night after a brief illness. The deceased was a member of Co. I, 157th Regiment Indiana Infantry and was in the Spanish American War. He was about 48 years of age and lived for a number of years in Toledo where he was engaged in the Automobile Business.
The funeral was held on Monday afternoon. His father was called to Toledo Thursday afternoon and arrived but a short time before his death. He remained for the funeral. Mr. & Mrs. George Rhinesmith of Ashley, also attended the funeral.
The deceased was in Waterloo last summer and attended the annual reunion of the 157th Regt. held in the school park. He has been prosperous and had many friends in Toledo.
Willis O. Wheaton, 46, died at his home, 1952 Superior St. on Thursday. Mr. Wheaton had been connected with the auto trade in Toledo for 25[?] years. For the last three years he has been associated with the Wellever Piston Ring Co.
Mr. Wheaton started in the auto business with the Toledo Motor Car Co., the first distributor of motor cars in Toledo. He also helped the late Elwood Haynes build the first Haynes-Apperson car. He was born in Dysert[1], Ia on July 23, 1880.
Mr. Wheaton was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and was a member of the Sanford L Collins F&AM and Fort Meigs Chapter, R.A.M. He is survived by his widow Lydia May Wheaton, two daughters Mrs. Charles Beard and Virginia Wheaton, and one son William.
Services will be held at the home on Monday at 2 p.m. and will be conducted by Sanford L Collins Lodge F&AM.
Note 1: "Dysert" appears to be a misspelling, as no such town is known. WAW, 7/14/01.